Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov held a high-level meeting with senior executives from U.S. defense contractor Raytheon on May 19, focusing on expanding collaboration in air and missile defense systems, particularly the Patriot platform.
In a statement released after the talks, Umerov said he had a “productive meeting” with Joseph DeAntona, Raytheon’s Vice President for Land and Air Defense Systems. The conversation, he noted, centered on Ukraine’s urgent need for additional missile systems and interceptors to strengthen the country’s defenses against continued Russian air attacks.
“The main topic was strengthening the protection of Ukraine’s skies,” Umerov said. “We discussed the critical need for additional systems and missiles. This is a national priority — the protection of our people, critical infrastructure, cities, and villages.”
Raytheon, a key manufacturer of the Patriot air defense system, has been a central player in U.S. efforts to equip Ukraine with advanced ground-based air defense capabilities since the full-scale Russian invasion began in 2022. Umerov reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness to invest in such partnerships, describing air defense as vital to both civilian safety and national resilience.
“We are ready to invest in this direction because it is about the lives of our citizens and the resilience of the state,” he said.
The defense minister also emphasized Ukraine’s broader strategy to deepen industrial cooperation with U.S. partners, suggesting that closer integration with firms like Raytheon could streamline the maintenance and logistical support of Western-supplied systems already in service.
“Ukrainian defense companies are open to cooperation with American manufacturers to make the process of servicing and supporting weapons faster and more efficient,” Umerov said.
Raytheon representatives reportedly presented specific proposals for strengthening Ukraine’s layered air defense network. While details of those proposals were not made public, Umerov expressed appreciation for what he called “a professional conversation and real work in Ukraine.”
As Ukraine braces for continued aerial threats from Russian cruise missiles, drones, and ballistic strikes, Kyiv views expanding cooperation with American defense firms as essential to protecting its skies and accelerating self-sufficiency in critical defense sectors.